Spain are world champions. A single goal deep into extra time from Ferran Torres settled a brutal, attritional World Cup final against Argentina, whose hopes collapsed when Enzo Fernández was sent off with normal time expiring.
The breakthrough arrived 16 minutes into the additional period. Torres, who had been quiet for much of the contest, found space and finished clinically to separate two sides that had traded blows without reward for an hour and a half. Argentina, already down to ten men after Fernández's foul saw him dismissed on 90 minutes, had nothing left to give.
Fernández dismissal shifts momentum
For 90 minutes the final had been locked in stalemate, neither side willing to concede an inch. Then Fernández lunged in recklessly and referee showed red. The decision left Argentina a man short heading into extra time and handed Spain the numerical edge they would ultimately exploit.
Lionel Scaloni, already frustrated by a series of contentious calls, was booked for his protests as tempers frayed on the touchline. His side battled on but lacked the legs to contain wave after wave of Spanish possession.
One moment, one trophy
Torres's strike was all it took. The forward met the ball cleanly and Spain's bench erupted. Argentina pressed in desperation during the closing minutes but found no way through. When the final whistle sounded, Spain had their fourth world title, and Argentina were left to rue the red card that shifted the balance irrevocably.